Dr. Samuel Chui Advocates Smart Environmental Governance During Beijing Visit

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing

The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, began his visit in Beijing on April 10 and called on the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) yesterday (April 11).

Dr Chui was invited to attend the first session of the 2025 "Science, Culture, and Literacy" Lecture Series organised by the MEE to deliver a keynote presentation. The Minister of MEE, Mr Huang Runqiu, also attended the seminar.

The presentation, titled "Smart Environmental Governance Strategies and Practices of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government," highlighted the successful application of sewage surveillance and real-time forecasting models to assist in pandemic control efforts, practice cases of Hong Kong's innovation in pollution control by utilising smart technologies, and the two latest developed technological applications by the Environmental Protection Department, the biological water quality indicator "Phytoplankton Community Integrity Index" and the risk-based composite index for evaluating overall air quality status.

Participants unanimously agreed that the successful scientific pollution control practices introduced during the seminar provided valuable references for kick-starting ecological and environmental protection efforts. They should study and learn from these practices to further enhance the awareness and capacity of applying scientific thinking and methods to improve environmental quality, better promoting pollution control in a precise, scientific, and law-based manner.

The seminar was held in a hybrid format, combining online and offline participation. The Vice Minister of MEE, Mr Yu Huiwen; the Chief Inspector of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Inspector's Office, Mr Liao Xiyuan; and Vice Minister of MEE, Mr Dong Baotong also attended the event.

The Chief Engineer of MEE, Mr Ren Yong, chaired the seminar. Key personnel and administration of State Committee of Supervisory (SSC) Supervisor's Office, Ministry's various departments, the Environmental Emergency and Accident Investigation Center and Agency Service Center attended the event in person at the main venue. Other staff from the SSC Supervisor's Office, Ministry's various departments and the affiliated institutes joined from sub-venues or virtually.

During his visit to Beijing, Dr Chui also attended the 23rd China International Environmental Protection Exhibition and Conference. He met with representatives from the BRI International Green Development Coalition and the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Sciences to explore collaboration on environmental technologies, aiming to jointly achieve the goal of high-quality green and sustainable development under the Belt and Road Initiative.

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DEP attends seminar by Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme for Welfare Sector 2026-27 invites applications

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced that the full-time Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme for the Welfare Sector 2026-27 is inviting applications starting today (January 12). The programme, which will last for two years, with a total of 427 places, aims to train students to become enrolled nurses to alleviate the shortage of nurses in the welfare sector and enhance the quality of care services.

In response to the keen demand for nurses in the welfare sector, the SWD has commissioned the Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Saint Francis University and the Tung Wah College to provide the Enrolled Nurse (General) Training Programme for the Welfare Sector for five consecutive years starting from the 2023-24 academic year.

An SWD spokesman said, "Applicants for the programme must be permanent Hong Kong residents with right of abode in Hong Kong and have attained the age of 18 by the time the training programme commences. They must also have attained Level2 or above in five subjects, including Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and any two other subjects in Categories A (Note) and B, in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination; or an equivalent qualification. Applicants are also required to take note of other entry requirements as specified by respective training institutes."

The spokesman added, "To encourage young people and frontline staff currently serving the welfare sector to upgrade their professional skills, priority will be accorded to applicants who have successfully completed the two-year Diploma Programme and obtained the diploma under the Navigation Scheme for Young Persons in Care Services launched in 2015 (or under the First-hire-then-train Pilot Scheme from 2013 to 2016) by the SWD; or those who are currently working full-time in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or private organisations providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, youth or correctional services. Individuals who aspire to pursue a career as enrolled nurses in the welfare sector are also welcome."

Tuition fees will be reimbursed to trainees in full on the condition that they have successfully completed the training programme and qualified to register as enrolled nurses within two years. Trainees will be required to sign an undertaking to work as an Enrolled Nurse (General) in NGOs or private organisations recognised by the SWD for providing elderly, rehabilitation, family and child care, or correctional services for a continuous period of no less than three years after completion of the training.

Information seminars on the training programme will be held by the three institutes starting from January. Details of the information seminars are set out in the table below:

Training institute

Date and time of information seminar

Website

Enquiry number

Hong Kong Metropolitan University

2pm,

January 27

Programme content (Chinese only)

www.hkmu.edu.hk/nhs/tc/programmes-courses/nursing-and-health-studies/sub-degree-programmes/hdngf1_hdngosf1/

Application

admissions.hkmu.edu.hk/ug/online-application

3970 2928 /

3970 2957

Saint Francis University

3pm, February 6

Programme content

www.sfu.edu.hk/en/programmes/sub-degree-programmes/higher-diploma-in-enrolled-nursing-general-hden-swd/introduction/index.html

Application

onlineapplication.sfu.edu.hk/oa/admission/hdenswdForm

3702 4388

Tung Wah College

3.30pm, January 28

Programme content

www.twc.edu.hk/en/Programmes/hdn_swd

Application

www.twc.edu.hk/admission/

3190 6672

Applications will be closed at 5pm on March 2. For enquiries, please call the enquiry numbers of the training institutes.

Note: "Attained" in Citizenship and Social Development will be accepted as Level 2.

Source: AI-found images